The next morning Newt was woken by Alby pounding on his door yelling at him to get ready to do the tour. Newt mumbled something incoherent and quite literally rolled out of bed, landing on the floor with solid thunk. He groaned and tenderly pulled himself to his feet and grabbed a fresh set of clothes so he could get ready for the most uncomfortable tour he had ever had to give. With an agitated sigh Newt left his room and headed down for breakfast, maybe he could delay the tour long enough that Alby would get someone else to do it. He knew that would never happen but he could always hope. Too soon had breakfast ended and Alby was dragging him over to the slammer where they had kept the greenbean for the night. Wanting to give him some space to think over his new situation before throwing him in with everybody else.
The closer they got to where the boy was, the more the trepidation in Newt's mind grew. There was something about the boy that caused new feelings to burst to life inside of him, and Newt wasn't sure how he felt about that, he didn't even know the kid.
"Alright greenie, Newt, here, is going to give you the tour today, you listen to him and do exactly what he says and there won't be any problems got it?" Alby said opening the door the cell.
The boy nodded and cautiously stepped out of the cell giving Newt his first real good look at him. He was not unattractive by any sense of the word, his build fit him almost perfectly, if he hadn't been so nervous. He had every right to be nervous too, being thrust into an unfamiliar place with no memories of who you are would do that to anybody. When he looked up at Newt, that same click that he had felt yesterday returned, it was almost as if this boy was the missing puzzle piece to Newt, but he immediately shook that thought off, that was too crazy. One person couldn't complete another when they didn't even know each other's names. Whatever this was, this weird click he felt within himself whenever he saw the boy, was probably just his sleep deprived mind messing with him.
"Come on greenie, I don't have all day to show your confused arse around, so let's get this over with so I can get on with my own work," Newt quipped, already walking away from the slammer. He didn't bother turning around to see if the boy was following him, something inside Newt told him the newbie was scampering to catch up.
"You don't have to show me around if you don't want to, I can figure it out on my own if you need to be somewhere else," the brunette said in a soft whisper when he had caught up with Newt. The words hit Newt with more meaning than they were meant to, he didn't have any reason to be such a shuckface to this boy who didn't even know his own name. Stopping suddenly, Newt let a deep breath escape his lips and turned to face the newbie.
"It's fine, I'm sorry I've been such a bloody arse, I've just been overly stressed recently, not sure why to be honest. It's not a problem, giving ya the tour I mean. I'm just tired, my leg is acting up again, and since I'm second-in-command I can't really show much weakness, ya know what I mean? They would stop respectin' my authority and we can't have that here," Newt explained, though he wasn't sure why he told the boy so much.
"Where is here exactly?" was the hesitant response.
"The Glade," Newt said bluntly, "We only got three rules here, first, do your part, we ain't got the need or space for any bloody slackers, got it? Second, never harm another Glader, things can't work around here if we can't trust each other. And lastly, don't ever, under any circumstances, leave the maze, unless you're a runner, ya got me greenie?"
The boy nodded slowly, still talking everything in. His eyes held some many questions and Newt understood how confused and lost the boy must be feeling, he had gone through the same thing when he first came up in the box. Newt slung an arm around the shorter teen and started leading him over to the box.
"So has anything come back to ya yet? Like your name? It would be nice to call ya something other than greenie or newbie," Newt queried as they approached the box.
"Uh, nothing yet, I thought I remembered something but when I tried to focus on it my head protested and what it was, it slipped back into the darkness in my mind,"
"Well don't go pushin' yourself too hard trying to remember things you probably never will. You're no use to us if you can't work. Your name though, give it day or so, that's the one thing guaranteed to come back to ya. Now then this here's the box, but you have already been intimately introduced to the thing, and there isn't much to it than that. It gives us supplies once a week, and once a month it pops out a new greenie, this month you were the poor sap who was gifted to us,"
Newt continued to show the newbie around, answering a question here and there while being distinctly vague about most everything unless it was something the brunette needed to know at that specific moment. Newt explained the different jobs that they had around the Glade, showed him where meals were held, the bathrooms, and explaining who was in charge of what.
"Tonight we'll be a having a bonfire to welcome you, so ya better show up, it'd be rude to skip your own party," Newt said at the end of the tour. The newbie nodded not really sure what to do now, it wasn't like he really knew anybody besides Newt.
"So, uh…um… what should I do until then?"
"Stay out of trouble, get a bed, I don't know," Newt replied with shrug, he really just wanted to get away from the boy because something was stirring in him and Newt wasn't sure if he ready to delve into what it may be.
"Oh, okay," the greenie said almost dejectedly, looking like a lost puppy.
"I guess you can stick with me for now, just don't get in the way got it?" Newt's mouth was moving and words were coming out before he could stop himself. He would've taken it back and told the greenie to go mind his own business, but the smile that lit up across the shorter teen's face sent a rush of joy through Newt and he just couldn't find it in his heart to tell the boy no.
"Really?"
"I said yes didn't I? Don't make me repeat myself or I'll send you to find Chuck and get settled in with him," Newt quipped.
The newbie nodded, the stupid grin never faltering once. Newt knew this was a bad idea, if what he had started feeling since the greenie had arrived was any indication. Yet something was telling Newt that this boy was important and once again the sudden urge to protect him washed over Newt like one of Gally's punches, hard and fast.
The greenie followed Newt around for the rest of day, doing his best to stay out of the way and not asking too many questions, he seemed content to just be in Newt's presence. Again, Newt found himself comparing the boy to a lost puppy who he had been stupid enough to throw a bone to. When it came time to eat Newt went to sit with Alby, Frypan, Winston, and Zart, but the brunette hesitated when he saw Alby. Newt noticed this and walked back over to him to make sure he was alright.
"What's the problem greenie? Aren't you going to join us?" Newt asked.
"Uh… y-yeah, I guess,"
"They don't bite, well Alby can be a bit of twat from time to time, but he's a good guy once you get to know him. He's just stressed right now, the only one who you need to watch out for around is Gally, he can right prick sometimes," Newt said as he guided the greenbean over to their table so he could meet everyone.
"Everyone this is, well he still hasn't remembered his name yet, so this is the newbie. Greenie this is Zart, Frypan, he makes the food here so don't let him hear you complaining about how tasteless it is," Frypan laughed and flicked a chunk of tomato at Newt, "You know I'm just messing with ya shank. Then we've got Winston, and I believe you already know Alby,"
Alby grunted and continued eating his food, giving no other indication that someone new was sitting at his table. Newt just shrugged off the weird behavior of his first-in-command and started asking Zart how the crops were doing. At one point during the meal Frypan caught his eye and gestured to the greenbean, his expression clearly asking an explanation of what had happened that day. Newt mouthed 'later' in answer and went back to his previous conversation. After they had finished eating Frypan pulled Newt aside.
"So?" Frypan asked not even trying to hide his knowing smirk.
"So what?" Newt said trying to be as nonchalant and vague about what his friend was referring to.
"Man don't go being a slinthead about it, you know what I'm talking about, so you better tell me what happened today or I'll him you li-ike him," Frypan joked.
"Fine, but not now, we gotta go get set up for the bonfire," Newt growled.
Frypan seemed appeased with the answer and slapped Newt on the back before leading them back over to the rest of the group was waiting for them. Newt and Alby started giving out orders and once done everyone moved off to do what they needed to, leaving Newt and the newbie alone at the table.
"Well I need to get ready, you can wait here, or…" Newt wasn't sure where he was going with that sentence, "I mean I guess I can show you where to find me if you ever need me…"
Before the brunette could answer Newt had grabbed his wrist and was dragging him up to Newt's room. Neither boy said anything when they entered the tiny room. Newt walked over to the small dresser, really just a box that he had Gally make for him so he wasn't leaving clothes on the floor, and started rummaging through in attempt to find something decent to wear for the bonfire. The greenie plopped himself down on the edge of the bed, remaining silent as the blond scoured his minuscule wardrobe. One thing most people didn't know about Newt was that he was a very intense perfectionist, and always needed things to be in order, and always have himself look at least halfway presentable.
"Which one?" Newt asked, holding two different shirts, one loose and cream colored, the other a tight fitting burnt orange tank top, "Well, which one?"
"Uh… I-" the newbie was cut off by a knock at Newt's door.
"Who the bloody hell could that be?" Newt murmured to himself, going over to answer the knock.
"Hey Newt, man, I thought we might finish that talk we were having earlier?" Fry said with a teasing wink.
"Fry, now really isn't the best time for that," Newt hissed and pushed the dark skinned boy out into the hall and shut the door behind him.
"W-what did he want?"
"Hmm? Oh, Fry? Nothing, just some shuck about what food he should prepare for tonight," Newt lied easily, not wanting the other boy to know about what he was feeling. "So before that shank interrupted us, you were going to tell me which shirt you liked better, yes?"
"Uh, right, I, uh, like them both…"
"Well that's shucking helpful,"
"Well maybe you could wear both, the white over the orange? Then if you get too warm you can take the white one off and not be shirtless, ya know?" he finished lamely, running a hand through his messy hair and refusing to look at Newt. Newt seemed to ponder the suggestion for a moment before making his final decision. Newt nodded in absolution to himself and began to remove the shirt he was currently wearing. The other occupant of the room immediately flushed and began stuttering hopelessly as Newt changed in front of him.
"What, you got a problem with me changing in my own room?" Newt asked as he slipped the orange tank on effectively shutting the boy up.
"N-n-No, it's just, uhh..."
"Just what? Just so amazed at how gorgeous I am?" Newt teased without a second thought.
The greenie sputtered but couldn't form a sentence to save his life at that moment.
"I'm just messing with you, ya shank, plus you're going to have get used to people stripping in front you, happens more often than you'd think, some of the other boys here who work in the fields don't like to be constricted when they work,"
At this point the brunette was about as red as he could get before blood flow to his other extremities would be a problem. Newt chuckled and figured he should put the boy out of his misery, so headed to the door, now ready to head out to the bonfire. Glancing back with a devilish smirk, "Ya coming shank?"
Newt lead them of into field just outside of the Homestead where everyone had gathered around a large fire pit.
"Everybody here?" Alby asked after Newt and the greenbean had showed up. A series of shouts and cheers erupted from the crowd, "Alright then let's start this party and welcome the newest member to our family!" Alby yelled, lighting up the fire.
The party was really hitting it off but Newt couldn't find the guest of honor anywhere among the crowds. Grabbing a jar of Gally's moonshine, something everybody had to experience at least once in their life, he went off in search of the boy who made him question all his boundaries. He found him sitting alone against a log not too far away from the party.
"There you are!" Newt said as he sat down by the boy, "Here, you need to loosen up, plus it'll help put a little hair on your chest," he handed the newbie the jar of of Gally's moonshine knowing the reaction would be a great one with how skittish the boy had been so far.
"Oh- Oh God, what the- what is that?" the greenie asked after a glorious spit take.
"Not actually sure, Gally makes it, we also use it to sterilize cuts and what not, it's a pretty toxic whatever it is, but it loosens people up when they want to relax," Newt told him.
"It's awful!"
"Yeah, it really is," Newt said before taking another drink.
"And yet you still drink it?"
"Why not? Sometimes you just need to escape the pain and confusion we deal with here on a daily basis and let go," Newt replied handing the jar back to the shorter teen.
"Is it really that bad here?"
"It was worse at the beginning," Newt whispered, "But that's not important, this party is for you and you're over by yourself, can't have that now, come on get up, I'll introduce to some people, good that?"
Newt pulled the other up and lead him around the party introducing him to other gladers and getting him acquainted with some of keepers he would be working with in the next few days. Then they too the fight circle, where Gally was celebrating his latest victory.
"Hey, yo greenie wanna try?" Gally called out from the circle.
"Go for it! I bet you can take him!" Newt giggled, obviously letting the moonshine get to him.
The brunette looked hesitant but stepped in the circle nonetheless. The fight didn't last long, Gally ended up winning, surprising no one, but when his head the ground after the final hit one positive thing happened.
"T-Thomas," he called out, "My name is Thomas," he suddenly shouted and hugged Newt.
"Thomas!" Alby yelled, clapping the boy in the shoulder.
"Tommy," Newt said in soft voice right by his ear.
Thomas smiled broadly at Newt, "You can call me Tommy when ever you want. It's good remembering who I am to some degree," Thomas said and pulled Newt into a hug. The rest of the night was blur, all Newt remembered was that Thomas had somehow ended up in his bed that night.
